Yemen is an Arab country in Western Asia, occupying the southwestern to the southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. According to estimates, Yemen’s population is 25 million. Islam is the official religion in Yemen, and Muslims make up most of the population in Yemen. Shia Zaidis make up the biggest portion of the Yemeni population, and they are predominantly in mountainous areas in northern Yemen. Zaidi Shiites presence in the country is one of the most significant opportunities that could expand Iran’s strategic depth.

Twelver Shiites are a minority and the less privileged sector of the country. Moreover, most of them (Twelver Shiites) live in the province of Saada, whilst some of the live in Sanaa. Much of the Twelver Shiites are scholars, university professors, clergymen and doctors. Five million of the Yemeni population are descendants of Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H), and overall they are 200 hundred families. Ninety percent of them are grandsons of Imam Hassan (A.S) and the other ten percent are grandsons of Imam Hussein (A.S).

The population of the Yemeni Twelver Shiites snowballed after the victory of the Islamic Revolution in Iran. A special kind of coordination and unification governs the relationship between Yemeni Twelver Shiites and Zaidi Shiites, and the Union of Island Shiites in Yemen works in this direction. Zaidi Shiites believe that, at any time, only the Sadat generation of “Hasan ibn Ali” and “Hussein ibn Ali” has the right to govern the country and any other government is a usurped rule.

After the victories of Hezbollah as a symbol of Shiite resistance against the Zionist regime, the Shia and especially Twelver Shiites has had has a great growth in Yemen. After the 33-day war, the Yemen Shiites obtained a high spirit, to the extent that some of the children of Wahhabi clerics in East Yemen converted to Twelver Shiism.

The Houthis are Zaidi Shia group which locates in northern Yemen’s, Saada. The group is named after “Badroddin Al houthi” and has been formed in the early 80s. They have experienced armed clashes, 6 times, with the government in order to get the Shiites rights.

Religious Commonalities

Jurisprudence (Fiqh) of Zaidi and Twelver Shiites have a lot in common. Zaidi Shiites believe in the authority and infallibility of the first five members of Ahl Al Bayt, they consider Ali ibn Abi Talib as the Caliphate of Islam, as well as they believe in that the descendants of Hussein are Imams and the rise of Imam Mahdi.

The History of Relations between the two States

When Iran defeated the Southern part of the Arabian Peninsula in 597-598, Sassanid kings of Iran seized Yemen and it was annexed to Iran until the rise of Islam.

The third Hijri century Yemen’s Zaidi established a government in northern Iran. Deylam was the first Zaidi Shiite governmental base where the Zaidi Imams established their local governments. Their governance lasted for years and had positive effects for Iran. The Buyid dynasty who ruled Iran for two centuries, originates from this Zaidi

Moreover, in the third century Yahya ibn Al Hassan, nicknamed Al Hadi ila Al Haq, along with 800 hundred of his Iranian companions moved from Tabaristan (current Mazandaran and Gorgan) to Saada, where they established the first Zaidi Shiites government with the help of pro- Ahl Al Bayt tribes. The companions of Yahya were martyred during the wars waged to establish their rule; they are currently buried in a grave yard called “The Tabariyoon Grave Yard”.

Another issue that ties Zaidi Shiite and Twelver Shiites politically, is their perspective of governance and the establishment of a religious government which should bring about good governance in the society. These principles, leaves noble Zaidis with no choice else to support personalities like Imam Khomeini, the Supreme Leader, Sayyid Hassan Nasrallah and Ayatollah Sistani. Zaidi flags and slogans inscribed on are approved by Shia principles.

In the end, it should be noted that:

If we pay attention to Badroddin Alhuthi’s (former Huthi leader) speech, we will find out that he strongly supported the Islamic Revolution in Iran, confronting arrogant powers such as the U.S. and the Zionst Regime, as well as holding al Quds Day. The current Huthi Leader (Abd Al Malek Al Huthi) also follows his lead. From this perspective, Zaidi Shiites should be considered one of the most important factors in the expansion of Iran’s strategic depth in the Arabian Peninsula.

The Sayyid is a network of interested people in
Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei’s personality and
thoughts.
The Sayyid network works as a source for people
generated materials regarding ideas and personality
of Ayatollah Khamenei.
The Sayyid network provides general understanding
of Ayatollah Khamenei’s intellectual contributions on
the socio-political, religious, economical, and cultural
issues.